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Migrating MAC Thunderbird Folders to a more modern MAC already setup with an IMAC connection

  • 3 replies
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  • 11 views
  • Last reply by sfhowes

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock
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Hi, we have two MACs in our workshop, one elder MAC running Thunderbird with POP connection and lots of local folders, I believe. We have a newer MAC fully setup and running Thunderbird with an IMAP connection - by customer. The customer wishes to transfer his older MACs local folders to the newer MAC without overwriting his profile already setup? I have a MAC- formatted USB stick at the ready, any ideas would be most helpful?

Hi, we have two MACs in our workshop, one elder MAC running Thunderbird with POP connection and lots of local folders, I believe. We have a newer MAC fully setup and running Thunderbird with an IMAP connection - by customer. The customer wishes to transfer his older MACs local folders to the newer MAC without overwriting his profile already setup? I have a MAC- formatted USB stick at the ready, any ideas would be most helpful?

All Replies (3)

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock Question owner
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Do you need to know relevant version numbers on the two MACs?

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock Question owner
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And conversely, relevant MACOS version numbers on the 2 MACs?

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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On the old mac, locate the mbox files in the Mail/<popservername> and Mail/Local Folders subfolders, and in .sbd subdirectories. The mbox are the large files with no extension, named after folders, e.g. Sent.

Copy the mbox files, renaming if necessary, to the Mail/Local Folders location in the profile of the new mac, with TB closed. Restart TB to find the folders under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

Help/Troubleshooting Info, Profile Folder, Show in Finder, to open the profile.

This should work no matter the versions of TB or OS X on the two macs.